Campus News

UIW Title V Office Sponsors Symposium on Learning

Scholars from across the nation were on hand for the 2004 Symposium on Pedagogy & Learning in Postsecondary Education sponsored by the University of the Incarnate Word Title V Office this June.

Academics from a variety of post-secondary institutions, including many Hispanic-serving institutions, came together to discuss serving minority populations, as well as the global and digital realities of education in the 21st Century.

“This was an opportunity for other Hispanic-serving institutions with Title V grants to present the results of their grant efforts,” said Dr. Annette Craven, assistant professor of management at UIW and event coordinator. “We invited everyone to share research and practices so that we can build better, more effective educational environments and experiences for the minority students that we serve.”

In addition to conference sessions, participants attended a luncheon with guest speaker Lionel Sosa, a leader in the field of Hispanic-targeted advertising.

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Doyle Delivers Speech on Female Leadership

Dr. Denise Doyle, vice president for academic and student affairs, led a presentation at the Women in Leadership Symposium “Breaking Barriers and Going Beyond,” held at UIW. The symposium focused on the stereotypes that challenge women in leadership positions.

Doyle noted that the stereotypes that women most often face in leadership positions are that women don’t have the ability to make tough decisions, are too softhearted, and have too many responsibilities to give 100 percent to their jobs.

According to Doyle, such stereotypes challenge women’s credibility as leaders and determine how others measure their potential for leadership. This in turn makes well-prepared women question whether they’re ready or not for leadership.

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Women’s Global Connection Sponsors July Conference

Women’s Global Connection at the University of the Incarnate Word sponsored a conference, “Building Community Leadership in a Global Society,” in the UIW Sky Room this summer.

Hundreds of women from across the globe met to discuss the importance of women’s leadership in the 21st Century, including the joys and challenges of claiming leadership.

The topics of discussion ranged from spirituality in the information age to violence in women’s lives. Leadership roles of women were also explored through cross-cultural presentations.

Presenters included women from Tanzania, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Canada and Mexico. Books and music of these various cultures were showcased during the conference, highlighting the importance of cross-cultural awareness in today’s world.

Women’s Global Connection (www.womensglobalconnection.org) is promoted and governed by Visitation House Ministries of San Antonio, Texas, a non-profit charitable organization in the state of Texas, and is sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word of San Antonio.

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Incarnate Word Rated Sixth in Nation for Private School Value

n August, the University of the Incarnate Word was named the sixth best value for private school higher education in the United States, according to Consumer’s Digest.

UIW is one of only two Texas schools named to the top 25 of the “Best Values for Private Colleges and Universities” list, which evaluates schools based on academic excellence and the cost of attending. With its sixth-place ranking and a value-index score of 94.7, Incarnate Word was the highest-ranked Texas school in both the public and private categories.

The Consumer’s Digest rankings began by determining a value-index score, which was derived by factoring academic excellence (standardized test scores, high-school rank and GPA of entering freshmen) with the educational quality offered by each institution (student-to-faculty ratio, graduation rate, percentage of faculty holding terminal degrees).

The value-index score and the estimated attendance costs, including tuition, required fees, and average room and board, were then analyzed to determine what schools offered “the most academic value per dollar,” according to Consumer’s Digest.

The rankings do not consider financial aid assistance, which makes the cost of attending Incarnate Word even more accessible. UIW’s generous financial aid program awards assistance to more than 80 percent of its students.

UIW was the highest ranked Texas private school, beating Rice University, which was listed at no. 9. In addition, three Texas schools made the Public Colleges List: UT-Austin at no. 36, Texas A&M at no. 44, and UT-Dallas at no. 50.

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Mexico Sister School Added

In July, the University of the Incarnate Word added Universidad Olmeca in Mexico as one of its 90-plus sister school institutions throughout the world.

Sister school agreements allow UIW students more options for study abroad and support the emphasis that the school places on learning at the international level.

Olmeca was chosen as a sister school for its support of cultural exchange programs and international education. Olmeca already holds one of the most prestigious rankings at the regional level and was looking to provide international opportunities to its students.

“Olmeca’s innovative leadership makes it a very progressive private school with a wireless environment. We are looking forward to working with them,” said Dr. Patricia LeMay Burr, the distinguished chair of international business in the H-E-B School of Business and Administration at UIW.

Olmeca provides degrees in a variety of fields, including business administration, architecture, communication arts, law, computer graphic arts, electrical engineering and information systems.

Olmeca, located in Tabasco, Mexico, is an institution of higher learning based on Christian values. Olmeca is dedicated to educating men and women who will exercise liberty as a means of social justice while keeping alive the national and cultural identity of Mexico.

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UIW sets enrollment record, and receives largest federal grant in university history

At a time when many private institutions of higher learning are experiencing declining enrollments, the University of the Incarnate Word has set yet another enrollment record.

The university started the fall semester with 4,800 students, the highest enrollment in its 123-year history. The university has now set enrollment records in 18 of the last 19 years.

“We’re pleased that we are in the position of offering a quality education at an affordable price that’s allowing the university to grow,” said UIW President Dr. Louis J. Agnese, Jr.

And now with the help of a record $3.37 million federal grant, UIW is planning for new ways of enhancing the student learning experience.

The Title V co-operative grant, in which UIW will work with Northwest Vista College, is the largest grant in university history. Its purpose is to reach out to first-year students, create better communications and offer more opportunities for them to become engaged members of the university community.

Among the proposed programs will be the development of a course for first-year students that will address topics of significant interest to them. Students will also be encouraged to choose a major within their first year to help them focus and thus progress more successfully toward graduation.

Many students enter college and are uncertain of the area they are interested in studying. Through the efforts of the program, students will be encouraged to choose a major within their first year.

“Students who have chosen a major early in their education make more progress and have more focus,” said Dr. Denise J. Doyle, vice president for academic and student affairs.

The grant will provide the services necessary for those attending UIW to become more successful and engaged students.

“We want our students to leave Incarnate Word as successful as they arrived here,” said Agnese. “That is part of the agreement we make with students when they are accepted here, that we will work with them to ensure their success.”

She also encouraged mentors to educate young women and men about the negative impact of such stereotypes and to cultivate leadership among young women in the workplace, encouraging them to aspire to leadership in their organization.

Topics covered included transcending gender stereotypes, blending personal and professional growth, bridging gender differences, creating a strategic network, and the role of corporate leaders in creating and maintaining an inclusive culture.

Top female business leaders from SBC, Harcourt, Frost Bank, Valero Energy Corporation, H-E-B and Chase Bank all led the discussions for this conference.

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Fulbright Program Successful at UIW

UIW’s Fulbright Program came alive in 2001-2002 when Dr. Pat LeMay Burr, Distinguished Chair in International Business, was asked by the Fulbright Commission to head a UIW Fulbright Advisory Board. She was charged with assembling a group of faculty willing to advise students and other faculty interested in the many Fulbright opportunities and to increase the Fulbright Program awareness on campus.

“Our campus Fulbright success has exceeded my highest hopes for a campus our size and in a short period of time,” commented Dr. Burr after her own Fulbright Scholar award to Mexico in 2001-2002 and her Fulbright Senior Specialist award to Vietnam in 2004.

“In addition to Dr. Bin Kong’s Fulbright Scholar award to Africa in 2003-2004 and Dr. Nursen Zanca’s Fulbright Hayes award to Bulgaria in 2004, we have our first Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence, Dr. Lopita Nath from India,” she added. UIW’s application to the Fulbright Commission to bring Dr. Nath here was successfully written by UIW Fulbright Advisor Dr. Lydia Andrade.

Since 2001, Dr. Burr has placed two UIW students—Adam Greenup and Josh Sheffield—in the London Fulbright Commission office as interns. “This begins the process on campus for our students,” Dr. Burr observed.

The Fulbright Commission office held an orientation session on campus in 2003, and Dr. Annette Craven attended additional Fulbright seminars in order to become a campus Fulbright Advisor as designated by the Fulbright Commission.

Two Fulbright Group Travel Grants successfully applied for by Dr. Burr were awarded to UIW to allow 25 scholars from UIW and other South Texas campuses to participate in a four-week fact-finding study programs in China and Mexico during summer 2004.

UIW participants in Mexico included Dr. Donna Aronson, Dr. Burr (Project Director), Ms. Sara Jackson, Dr. Steve Wilson, Professor Phillip Youngblood and Dr. Nursen Zanca.

China participants included Dr. David Campos, Professor Dora Fitzgerald, Professor Irene Gilliland, Professor Julie Miller, Dr. Mary Beth Swofford, Professor Adam Watkins, and Dr. Binbin Jiang (Project Leadership).

The UIW Fulbright Advisory Board will be working this academic year to increase campus awareness of the various Fulbright opportunities and application deadlines.

Other UIW Fulbright Scholars from recent years include Dr. Michael McGuire (El Salvador) and Dr. Gilberto Hinojosa (Mexico).

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UIW Hosts Back-to-School Bash to Raise Money for Scholarships

Hot musical groups like the JFJ Band, Dogmen Poets, food booths from restaurants across the city, and games and activities were some of the thrills that were offered in August at Wordstock 2004.

Students from across San Antonio were on hand to launch the 2004-05 school year with a citywide bash that included lots of fun.

Incarnate Word sponsored this event to support the National Hispanic Scholarship Fund, the San Antonio Educational Partnership, and the University of the Incarnate Word Endowed Scholarship.

A special thanks to the many sponsors that helped make Wordstock a success: Bud Light, Regal Cinemas, San Antonio’s Fox/WB, KROCK 102.7, and the San Antonio Current.

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